Sprinkler head mounting system

Claim 1

A system for adjustably mounting a branch pipeline of a sprinkler system to structural elements above a ceiling, said branch pipeline including a horizontal pipe having a distal end with a vertical pipe depending therefrom into a position proximate an opening formed in the ceiling and having a sprinkler head on the lower end of the vertical pipe, said system comprising: (a) anchor means for fixed attachment to ta structural element above the ceiling and to the horizontal pipe of the branch pipeline; and (b) clamp means for fixed attachment to a structural element above the ceiling and for engaging the vertical pipe of the branch pipeline, said clamp means being operable in response to an operating force applied thereto in a direction parallel to the axis of the vertical pipe between a pipe gripping position wherein the vertical pipe and the sprinkler head are held immobile and a pipe releasing portion wherein the vertical pipe and the sprinkler head are vertically adjustable, said clamp means comprising: (i) a spring band of circular configuration through which the vertical pipe passes when said clamp is disposed for engaging the vertical pipe, said circular band having adjacent ends which are normally spaced apart with respect to each other to provide the pipe releasing position of said clamp means; (ii) a mounting flange mounted on said spring band at a location diametrically opposed to the adjacent ends thereof for fixed attachment to a structural element above the ceiling; (iii) a first ear extending integrally from one of the adjacent ends of said spring band; (iv) a second ear extending integrally from the other one of the adjacent ends of said spring band, said second ear having a flange which extends therefrom toward said first ear in underlaying engagement therewith; (v) fastener means carried on the flange of said second ear and having a threaded shank which extends upwardly between said first and second ears and having a depending head means to which the operating force is applicable for rotation of said fastener means; and (vi) draw means in overlaying straddling engagement with said first and second ears and threadingly carried on the shank of said fastener means for movement between an elevated position wherein said ears are in their normally spaced apart position and a downwardly disposed position which pulls said first and second ears toward each other to circumferentially compress said spring band to provide the pipe gripping position of said clamp means.

Claim 2

A system for adjustably mounting a branch pipeline of a sprinkler system to structural elements above a ceiling, said branch pipeline including a horizontal pipe having a distal end with a vertical pipe depending therefrom into a position proximate an opening formed in the ceiling and having a sprinkler head on the lower end of the vertical pipe, said system comprising: (a) anchor means for fixed attachment to ta structural element above the ceiling and to the horizontal pipe of the branch pipeline; and (b) clamp means for fixed attachment to a structural element above the ceiling and for engaging the vertical pipe of the branch pipeline, said clamp means being operable in response to an operating force applied thereto in a direction parallel to the axis of the vertical pipe between a pipe gripping position wherein the vertical pipe and the sprinkler head are held immobile and a pipe releasing portion wherein the vertical pipe and the sprinkler head are vertically adjustable, said clamp means comprising: (i) a spring band of circular configuration through which the vertical pipe passes when said clamp is disposed for engaging the vertical pipe, said circular band having adjacent ends which are normally spaced apart with respect to each other to provide the pipe releasing position of said clamp means; (ii) a mounting flange mounted on said spring band at a location diametrically opposed to the adjacent ends thereof for fixed attachment to a structural element above the ceiling; (iii) a first ear extending integrally from one of the adjacent ends of said spring band; (iv) a second ear extending integrally from the other one of the adjacent ends of said spring band, said second ear having a flange which extends therefrom toward said first ear in underlaying engagement therewith; (v) fastener means carried on the flange of said second ear and having a threaded shank which extends upwardly between said first and second ears and having a depending head means to which the operating force is applicable for rotation of said fastener means; and (vi) draw means in overlaying straddling engagement with said first and second ears and threadingly carried on the shank of said fastener means for movement between an elevated position wherein said ears are in their normally spaced apart position and a downwardly disposed position which pulls said first and second ears toward each other to circumferentially compress said spring band to provide the pipe gripping position of said clamp means.